In a devastating turn of events, the search for a missing six-year-old non-verbal autistic boy from Washington, DC, has ended in tragedy. The child’s body was discovered in a pond, bringing an end to the desperate search.
Fawzan Hassan was last seen around 3 p.m. on Saturday near the playground at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
His family was at the park for a picnic event hosted by the Ethiopian community.
The little boy’s absence was noted when his grandmother, who was watching him, went to find his sister. When she returned, Fawzan was gone.
The Search Efforts
Montgomery County Police held a news conference on Sunday evening, revealing that volunteers had found Fawzan’s body around 5:30 p.m. The search had been extensive, involving police, fire departments, and the Maryland National Capital Police.
Drones were used, but due to the presence of snapping turtles, divers were not deployed. The pond had been searched twice before, but Fawzan’s body had not surfaced.
Community Reaction
Azeb Adere from the Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community, who helped with the search, described the day as a ‘sad day for the community.’ She expressed deep sorrow for Fawzan’s family and noted that many questions remained about why he wasn’t found sooner.
Adere hoped this tragedy would lead to better precautions to prevent similar incidents.
Search Procedures and Advice
Montgomery County Police Lieutenant Kristina Hedgepeth assured the public that the search had been thorough. She explained that factors like underwater conditions might have affected their search efforts.
Hedgepeth, who is a parent herself, emphasized the importance of vigilance, especially when caring for children with special needs.
She advised parents to keep a constant watch on their children and mentioned that non-verbal autistic children might not respond to their names. It’s crucial to approach them calmly and use visual signals or familiar objects to get their attention.
Official Findings
Officials have stated that there is no suspicion of foul play in Fawzan’s death. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
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